John Kerry on Iraq Report: Immoral to Wait to Change a Failed Policy

07/12/2007 -- WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator John Kerry today made the following statement on the report on progress in Iraq issued today by the White House.

"Spin can't change the overwhelming conclusion of this report, that the Iraqi politicians have failed miserably to achieve any political progress," Senator Kerry said. "The President must stop exploiting the same old straw men, while real men and women are dying for a policy that's not working. This misguided escalation was supposed to give the Iraqi politicians breathing room to achieve the political compromises needed to end their civil war. During the escalation, 600 American soldiers have given their lives to give the Iraqis a chance, and the Iraqis have only wasted time and squandered opportunities. That's a disgrace. It would be immoral to wait until September to change a failed policy.

"It's now even clearer that no number of American troops can make Iraqis reach benchmarks for political reconciliation. With the Iraqi parliament set to go on vacation in August, there is no reason to believe the Iraqis will get their act together by September. How many American soldiers have to give their lives while Iraqis squabble? The President needs to change course now and set a deadline to make Iraqis take responsibility and redeploy American troops."

Source: Senator John Kerry